Acts 15 :: American Standard Version (ASV)

The Council at Jerusalem

Act 15:1And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Act 15:2

Act 15:2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Act 15:3

Act 15:3They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Act 15:4

Act 15:4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.

Act 15:5

Act 15:5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.

Act 15:6

Act 15:6And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.

Act 15:7

Act 15:7And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Act 15:8

Act 15:8And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9

Act 15:9and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Act 15:10

Act 15:10Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Act 15:11

Act 15:11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

Act 15:12

Act 15:12And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.

James's Judgment

Act 15:13

Act 15:13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:

Act 15:14

Act 15:14Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15

Act 15:15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16

After these things I will return,

And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen;

And I will build again the ruins thereof,

And I will set it up:

Act 15:17

That the residue of men may seek after the Lord,

And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

Act 15:18

Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

Act 15:19

Act 15:19Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;

Act 15:20

Act 15:20but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

Act 15:21

Act 15:21For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

Act 15:22

Act 15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Act 15:23

Act 15:23and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

Act 15:24

Act 15:24Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;

Act 15:25

Act 15:25it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Act 15:26

Act 15:26men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 15:27

Act 15:27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.

Act 15:28

Act 15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

Act 15:29

Act 15:29that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.

Act 15:30

Act 15:30So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.

Act 15:31

Act 15:31And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Act 15:32

Act 15:32And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Act 15:33

Act 15:33And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.

Act 15:34

Act 15:34 [fn]But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.

Act 15:35

Act 15:35But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Second Missionary Journey

Act 15:36

Act 15:36And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.

Act 15:37

Act 15:37And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

Act 15:38

Act 15:38But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

Act 15:39

Act 15:39And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus:

Act 15:40

Act 15:40but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

Act 15:41

Act 15:41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.